saintsdoggle

saints (n.) - NFL franchise presently based in New Orleans; boondoggle (n.) - an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity; saintsdoggle (n.) - the Saints' potential relocation situation in New Orleans, and the resulting boondoggle by Louisiana to keep the team from leaving

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

UPDATE: Bradshaw transcript from On The Record

After reviewing the video link of last night's On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, I've compiled a transcript of Terry Bradshaw's appearance regarding the Saints' future in New Orleans:

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Greta: Terry, let’s talk football for a second. Any chance the New Orleans Saints will ever leave this city?TB: Um, unfortunately, there is. The NFL, as you know Greta, has poured about $40 million into the Saints and rebuilding the Dome to get the Saints back into that Dome this year. Had they not done that, it would not, probably would not have been ready for this season. So there’s a chance. The problem, obviously, is this: we lost so many businesses in the state, primarily in New Orleans, who have moved out and not totally moved back in, and so therefore…We’ve lost several thousands of, at one point, over 200,000 residents had left that city, so there was, really were not enough people or enough businesses really to support an NFL franchise, and that’s one of the reasons they moved, as you know, over to San Antonio where owner Tom Benson lives, and where they had played, and then they went to Baton Rouge, and then eventually now this year, they’re going to come back to New Orleans, but there’s probably, Greta, about a two-year window where that franchise will be evaluated and, once again, by the NFL, and to be honest with you, there is a possibility that the Saints will be, uh, will leave. I’m not saying “will be leaving”, but will or could leave the city of New Orleans.Greta: Terry, I know how much the Steelers are important to Pittsburgh, my beloved Packers to Green Bay. If the Saints left the city of New Orleans, what would it mean to these people?TB: Well, it would be a devastating loss. It’s not that big a city, but it’s a very famous city, as you well know. For a city like New Orleans to be able to have a professional franchise – as we know, it’s a billion dollar industry to any metropolitan area, to a state, to a city, the money that is brought in just by having an NFL franchise, not to mention the fact that when you have an NFL franchise, Greta, all of a sudden you are one of the elite cities in America. Even without the Saints, of course, New Orleans would’ve been that, as we well know. But that city, with the Saints, makes them awfully awfully beautiful. Don’t forget, too, we have the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in the Dome, we have the Saints in the Dome, and if you take away the Saints and move them out, all of a sudden, you’re looking at a big facility that a lot of money has been put into that would not be generating capital for the city of New Orleans.Greta: How’s Reggie Bush going to do for the Saints?TB: Reggie Bush is going to be great. As a matter of fact, that’s a great – Reggie Bush is perfect for the Saints. He’s a great kid, an extremely talented kid, explosive, exciting. The fans are there. You know they’ve sold, they’ve sold that thing out. The problem you’re having now, Greta, even with Reggie Bush coming to town, as you know, is big business pouring the money into the luxury boxes, and that’s where these owners make their money and are able to put out all these big bonuses. Reggie Bush has helped fill that stadium up. It has not yet filled up all of the luxury boxes, but I think this year if they’re exciting enough and the city keeps coming back, and we don’t have any more hurricanes, and we get our levees up, and we get our pumps going, and get that city secure, where we can instill some confidence into the business community, so that these folks will come back in there, I think the Saints will show to everyone, in that city especially, that they can pick up where they left off, and Reggie Bush will be a key part of that. Greta: All right, Terry, and I hope people are listening to you, because I’d like to see the Saints stay; I’d hate to see New Orleans lose the Saints.TB: I don’t want them to leave.Greta: I don’t either. I hated when the Colts left Baltimore too. Alright, Terry, thanks.

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Good job, Terry. Keep fighting the good fight to keep the Saints home in New Orleans.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Bradshaw: Saints have approximately two-year evaluation window

NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback and Louisiana native Terry Bradshaw made an appearance Monday night on Fox News' "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren". The topic, obviously, was the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and Bradshaw was asked to address the Saints' situation in New Orleans.

Among Bradshaw's comments, he said that he believes the Saints have around a two-year window to evaluate the franchise's future, and that there is a distinct possibility that the team could be relocated because of a lack of business environment to purchases suites and sponsorships. He also mentioned that without the NFL's $40 million Superdome renovation contribution, the Saints might not be playing this fall in New Orleans.

Bradshaw also mentioned that the Saints generate millions of revenues for the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana, and that newly drafted marquee running back Reggie Bush will play a large role in the future of the team in the city.

Finally, Bradshaw stated that he sincerely hopes the team stays in New Orleans.

Many other stories along these lines may follow in the coming days, and we'll be on the lookout for them - and for any information that might be gleaned from them to shed some light on the Saints' long-term future.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

New commish viewed as favorable to New Orleans

With the passing of the NFL commissioner's torch from Paul Tagliabue to Roger Goodell, my personal thoughts were whether Tags would also be passing along his desire to keep the Saints in New Orleans.

It is apparent that many involved directly with the situation feel that he has.

Today's Times-Picayune features an article by Brian Allee-Walsh entitled, "For Saints, new boss is heaven-sent." In it, various persons are quoted with a completely positive perspective of the new man in charge.

Arnold Fielkow, previous Saints executive and current New Orleans Councilman-at-large who wants to keep the team in New Orleans, had this to say:

"I think Roger's selection is a tremendous one both for the NFL and for the city of New Orleans. He's a tremendous leader who is very intelligent, very compassionate and he understands the challenges that New Orleans faced before Katrina and will face in the future. He has always been a great friend of the Saints and of our city. Commissioner Tagliabue has been fantastic in every way. His successor brings those same qualities to the table in terms of wanting to be of help to New Orleans in its rebuilding efforts."

Also, Doug Thornton, regional vice president of SMG, the company that runs the Superdome for the state, was quoted as telling the Times-Picayune:

"I think the NFL made a great selection. Roger has a full grasp on what we're doing with the Superdome and has been instrumental in helping us put the Dome back together. I am very pleased. We've got a great relationship with him. I don't see that changing. I think he'll continue to be supportive."

And, to quote the article, "Tim Coulon, chairman of the Louisiana Superdome and Exposition District, echoed Thornton's sentiments, saying Goodell has 'a soft spot for the city and the Saints and our recovery.'"

So, it seems, another step up the ladder has been taken in keeping the Saints in New Orleans, where they belong.